Combined steering and engine control device



.May 24,1932. c. N. COLSTAD COMBINED'- STEERING AND ENGINE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 50, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet y 1932- I v c. N. COLSTAD 1 ,860,173

COMBINED STEERING AND ENGINE CONTROL DEV-ICE I77 vewfor 5 H M wffowfie g PatentedMay 2 ,1932 v I p I I 1,860,173 I UNITED STATES ATEN eri v r CHARLESN COLSTAD, or ATTLEIBQRO, ivrnssnonusnrrsf COM INED STEERING AN-DLENGINE con rnor. nnvron" l Application'filed August so, 1930 smi ire-478,907;

My present invention relates to motor boats, of the boat to vwhich the stick or'lever has and more particularly to a novel and imbeen moved. ;In other words,' to steer the proved combined steeringand-engine control boat, the stick or lever, or either of them? mechanism for operating such boats, l v is moved in theydirectionlin which it de 5 sM' i ti i particularly appllcable to s1red that the boat shall turn, Thus,rin a 55 the type of motor boat in which the engine is boat'of the type illustrated. herein, having a mountedin the stern portion of the boat,.and plurality of compartments, the steering "of While the invention is illustrated and dethe boat may beeft'ected from either compartscribed in combination with aninboard motor ment With equal ease and efliciency; In order 7 10 operated on the outboard motor principle, the toefie'ct turning of the boatrwhile underway, 6Q invention is also capable of adaptation to mo- W'rth a 1I11Ill1'I1lllIllOf11'lOV8HlGIlt of the control tor boats utilizing an outboard motor, or an stlck or lever, Iwp referably vary the ratio engine in any part or position in the boat. 3 between the operating quadrant and the op- An important object of the present invenerated quadrant, the ,1 ratio asshown in the i tion is the provision of steeringmechanism present drawings being substant1ally2to 1. operated on the principle of an airplane stick 'Th1s represents a more 'efiicient method of control. said mechanism being arranged and Steering than by looping the steering cables located Within the boat for dual or plural 0r ropes overadditional pulleys, and doucontrol, that is, control fromeither of a plubling upon the saidcables. a

V mlity of stations or i t 1 f IMany boats of the'type illustrated herer This feature of the invention iscarried out in are constructed, adapted and intended 1 I by providing a plurality of operating sticks forrelatlvely high speeds, and order to or levers,spaced apart, but connected by a achieve-these speedsvvith a minimum ofen common rod, tube, or other'device and operglne power, the boats are constructed to 2:5 able by either of said sticks or levers plane as the engine speed is increased. In

In the present applicationI have illustrated a multi-compartment, boat, for example, the this uniting member as a tube, for purposes boat is best balancedfor most (efficient operawhich will be hereinafter more fully pointed t1on,; when only one person is. aboard, by v out; This tube is-preferably mounted in suitsaid person being located in a compartment i 30 able bearings on the center line of the boat, rei'notefrom the'engine. Thisis not feasible 0 i and adjacent to the bottom thereof, a control inboats of this type-,duento the location and: stick or lever being fixed to said tube ad acent arrangement of a the engine controls that is, to each end thereof. Fixed to'thebottomof the ignition switch, starter switch,- sparkconone of said sticks orlevers, preferably the trol, and throttle. r

rearmost one, is a grooved quadrant, to which" 'An important object of thQIPlQSQHtiljvten- 40 quadrant fixed to the rudder of the boat. plurality {of separated points of operation.

is fixed the steering ropes or cables; "Suitable tion, therefore, resides in providing means for pulleys are provided Within the boat over mechanismfor operating all of the aforesaid" I which the steering cables run, said cables be- :controls by either of the control, sticks'or I ing attached, at their other ends, to a grooved l v b f ti n from either of 0 .The operatingquadrant is positioned per 1 In order toaccomplishthis "desirable feapendicular to the longitudinal ax s of the turelof my invention, I uniteeachoftheboat, and in a vertical plane, the operated control sticksor levers by mean of ar a quadrant being also positioned perpendlcupreferablypassing throughthe control tube as lar vto the longitudinal axis of the boat, but above referred to. 'Each of the controlsticks in a horizontal plane or position. Thus orlevers is pivoted,at a secondpivot:point; movement of either of thesticks or levers above the first'mentionedpivotpointysaid I laterallyof the boat Willeffect Winding vof first pivot point beingjthe point on, which; '7' I the steering cable upon the quadrant and a the sticks or leversrotate toefiect steering f 1 1 dr wing Q h r d toward t a ide t e ea 1T9 ens f eib ntre t ck pref? 1 'sar to erably the rearmost one, I aflix a rod pro jecting rearwardly, and'which rod Would be theengine control rod were it not forithe fact that because of the lateral oscillation of;

the control sticks or levers it becomes necesr a link between the control stick to which the rearwardly extending rod. inclines upwardly" 1. from thebottom of the re'armosucontrol stick so". u I

to a'point on said link which is in alinementg With the lateral pivot point of said control stick. Thus lateral movement of the control. n sticlg will not eifect any movement of the "link to disturb the engine-controls; From the-upper end-0f the lin-k referred to a rod e tendsrearWardIy and is connected at its rearmost; end to a *T-shape'd lever having three armsthereon, said lower being mounted-on. but freely rotatable about-the butterfly" valve shaft Which extends through the carburetoiw v V The-said rod isiixed to one-arm of said T- v shapedlevenand to'another'arin of said lever isfixed a spark control rod operating the" timer oridistributor to advance or retard the he hereinafter more fully explained, automatically controlled. Thus, movement of either of the controlsticks or levers longi- I vtudi'nally of the boatwill performa plurality of functions It being assumed that the starter switch has been closed, and that the engine isrunning, movement of either'of the control sticks will effect a pullingforward of the'T-lever operating rod, which- Will ad vance the-"spark, and Will ojpenthe butterfly ,val-ve -in the carburetor bynieans of'aconnection between theT-lever and the-butterfly valve shaft,isaid connection be soarranged. that When the butterfly valve-has reached its. Wide openposition, therelwrll stillhe permitted movementof the spark'controlvrod to "still further advancethe sparl 'if-d'esired, or

. iiecessaryfDuring this forWa-rdinovementofthe T-leveroperating rod,'-the-1gn1t1on switch button 'control rod Will be moved Without effecting the ignition-sw tch. HoW- ever; on movement of the control stick or lever, or either of them, rearwardly th'e ;T-

I lever operating rod ill be' also forced "to the via-e ineans ijassoc'iated with the ignition rear, through the medium of the interposed link, the'hutterfiy valve, and retard- 'ing' the spark, and, atra' pr'edetermined'1no ment, pushi ng theign'ition switch button-t0."

shutfoffjthe ignition! I f desired, 1' may pro interpose means between said con trol sticks and the engine so thattheengine controls wines unaffected by lateral oscil lationor movement of the control sticks. I

accomplish this result by pivotally mounting and l have, therefore, broadly herein.

oscillation of .the other .leverthroughthe medium' of the connecting tubes: f-The i1p switch to control the starter switch, so that thestarter switch can'also be closed by operation of the control stick or lever Without manual 1 operation of I the "starter switch button. j i i I believe that mechanism above briefly described is novel, claimed. the. same I also b lieve that the engine control mechanism iillustrated herein and- [above l" briefly described, s novel, and have,-ther-e-L.

fore, claimed this feature broadly in this applicatiointogether with the feature of duel operation thereof.

novel, as elles the dualeperating thereof, and have claimed these features also broadly herein. :j

f Other features and objects of the mat the dual steering control I furthermore believe that the combined -i steering and engine controlmechan sm 1s] tion reside in the particular construction'and' arrangementof my novelmechanism, and the above and'cthe'r features, details of construction, combinations; of parts, and'advantages, will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. 7

Referring to the drawings, illustratinga preferred embodiment ofthe present invention,

Fig. lis atop plan viewof a boat in which my invention is embodied;

2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of said boat;

Fig. 3 isa cross-sectional view, on'the line i pointed out,;

"Fig. 4 is "a cross-sectional view onlthe line fF e-.l .7 a Fig. 5 is an enlarged:cross-sectional view on the llllefl-S' of Fig. 1; and

is a fragmentary device.

" Referring v detail View .illustrating the automatic, starter switch control 7 nowv to the drawings for aparf 'ticular' ClBSCIlPtIOIl Of the lnvention its'cone i struction and operation, my invention is illus- 1 trated asei'nbodied in a boat'comprising a hull 1 1, saidboat being divided into a plurality of compartments such as A and B by a vertical: 'lateralipartition (Land rear engine'house. v compartment D'bein'g defined by the vertical lateral partition, and the stern boards F."

A plurality of' fraines ,orribs 2, Zara pro-,f vided, and on certain of these ribs are mounted bearings Rotatably mountedin the bearings3 isa tubular member 45,- one end of said-tube 4; projecting beyond eachof the bearings3. A, plurality of c o'ntrol'sticks or from-and said brackets being fixed to the-tube -leversh'andfiare 'provi'ded, ,each having a V bracket 7 andS respectively depending there- 4. Thus,- lateral oscillationhfeitherof the levers 5 and 6 will effect a simultaneous lateral threaded into its lower section 9, as illus-" trated at 10. Thus, if it is desir'edto manipu-V late'the boat from thec'ompartment B- the lever 6 may be unthreaded from its base 9-and th'us'will not be in the Way of passengers in the compartment A; i

' On the bottom of the bracket7, and preferably integral therewith,is a quadrant 11, in the grooves of which are fixed the ends of steering cables or ropes 12 and 13. The steering cable 12 passesover -pulleys 14 fixed on the starboard side of the boat and extends to a quadrant 15fixed on the top of the rudder 16. The cable 13 passes over pulleys 17 fixed on the port side ofthe boat and extends also to the quadrant 15. Thequadrant 15 is pro-- vided with grooves similar .to the quadrant 11, and the cables 12 and13are located in different grooves and fixed to opposite ends of the said quadrant. V

To si'mplify manipulation of the rudder 16, with a minimum of movement of the levers or 6, I decrease the ratio bet-ween the quadrant 11 and the quadrant 15, thejratio of the quadrant 11 to the quadrant in the drawings of the present application being substantial. Thus, any .moveinent oflthe quadrant 11 will be substantially increased when transmitted .by the 'cables 12 or 13 to the quadrant 15 and hence to the rudder 16. It will thus be seen that the rudder 16 can be readily controlled by an operator seated either in the compartment A or the compart ment B. For example, if the operator isseated in the compartment A, movement of the lever 6 laterallyof the boat will etlecta rotation of the tube 4 in its bearings 3, and

7 hence a resulting lateral rotation of the quad rant 11. In steering the boat, the levers 5 or 6 are oscillated in the direction in which it is desired to turn the boat. For example, referring to Fig. 1, and assuming that the boat is under way, and that it is desired toturn or swing the boat to the left, either of the levers 5 or 6 will be moved toward the-port side of the'boat. Ihis willlefiect a counterclockwise rotative movement of the quadrant 11, when viewed from the stern of the, boat, and will draw the cable 13 over the pulleys 17 ,"thus pulling the quadrant 15 and rudder 16 toward the port side of the boat, and resulting in a turning of the boat to the left.

The simplicity and efiiciency' of my novel r steering control mechanism will .be instantly apparent to those skilled in the art Inthe compartment D is housed a motor designated generally at 18, this motor resting on an engine bed 19 supported bycross frames 20 and being secured to said bed by studs 21 and nuts 22, or in any'other desir able manner; Communicating with the'fengine 18 is a carburetor 23f within which is mounted a butterfly valve 24 on a shaft 25. Mounted for free rotationabout the shaft 25 tached to the 'uppenend of; a-"link' 31, said link 31 being pivotally connected at 32to a .isaT shaped lever comprising;threeiarms26, A 27 and28. Fixed tothearm26 is rod-29 V bracket 33 fixed to the bedx19 by a screw 3et,

orin any other desirable manner. f If A rod 35 is 'pivotally connected to the bots tom end of the link31 and'extends forwardly and is fixed to the bottom, o'f'the pro'jec tion .36 depending from the'levr 5, said lever 5 j 5 being pivotally mounted on itsbracket'? at 37. A. second rod 38 extends through the tube 4, and is connected to the dependin'g projection 36 on the lever 5 and ito the d'ipend'--1 [I ing projection 39 on the lever '6',"t he lever 6 being pivotallyimounted' 21/040 in itsbr-acket V 8. An arm tl is lfixedi on the butterfly valve arm 41 and the arm'26 ofthe Tlevenaspring shaft 25, and a b olt 42 extendsbetween the" t3'being interposed between the arm 26. and the arm 111.. A tube-4:4: is fixed at one-rend to the carburetor 23 and at its other end toth e head-45 of theengine 18. Fixed atone 'eiidto the arm'27 is a spark control'rod -169Wl11l1 extends through said tube it'and is fixedat its other end'to aztimer or. distributor in the head 45. Fixed to the-engine 18 by a suitable bracket 47' is a starter and ignition switch boar 48, having a button 49atone end accessible;

through an aperture 50 in theip artition and havinga shut-off button. 51 at its opposite end.

vide an L-shaped rod '53 secured atone end 'tothe arm "28zand'provided withfanl eyed portion-541m its opposite end,theqpin 52 projecting through the eyei5t. v 59' z, The button 49 is 'illustrated'in Figi5fas and the controls are illustrated in substan- "having beenLdepressed, -to Start'thel'inotor, 1 1

5 or lever 6will be pushed forwardly This movement .will' effect a rockingof the link 1 31 and adrawing forward oiffthefrod29,rotating the T-shapedlever about its pivot25. This forward movement otthe: rod 29 will effect afurtheropening ofthebutt'erflyvalve 2 1 through the mediumof akspringslciw, and" arm 26,.simultaneously moving the arm 27 III.

It may be desirable, afterr thebutterfiy valve 24: has reachediitswidefloperr position,*to;still f 125} further advance: theTspa-rk, and this; is pro: vided for by the spring 43. Afterthebut terfly valve 24 has reached its wideopelilpo sitionfurtherlforwardmovementlof the leve'r 5for 6, will efi'ecta'continued pull .on the rod 29, rotating theLI-lever about itsfpivot25 J Projectingoutwardly. from: i Y button 51 I ,provide'a pin ,52, and also pros v 2o 1 I downwardly and drawingthe spark control i rod through the tub-e44,- to advance thespark and forcing thearm 26 .to the right against the-tension of the coiled spring' 43, thus per-- V mittingthe rod146 to be drawn still. further downwardly toadvance the spark: v

The forwardend of the rod 35 is. fixed to thebottomiof the projection 36 of the lever to provide as much travel as possible about the pivot point 37, andthe forwardend. of

the rod being located helow the-horizontal pivot point of the lever 5,-neeessitates the V 'interpositioningofthe link 31 between the engine'controlsand lever.5.--F p Thepoint of union between v the rod 35 and link 3l is on the same plane as the center of the lateral pivot point'ofthe lever 5.- 'Thus lateral oscillation of the lever 5 will move v the end of the rodl35 which is fixed .tothe .vprojection 36 throughout an arc, but will have noetfect on the--link31 or rod 29, thus 'p ermitting" steering of theboat without dis- Itnrbing any of the engine controls, and'also Y permitting; simultaneous steering of the'boat and operationjofthe siredsp'eedf w l .When itfis; desired to stop the engine the engine controls at delever 5 or 6 is pulled rearwardly, thus eflect-' ing a push rearwardly' on the'rod 29, closing the butterfly valve 24, retardingthe'spark through the medium of the rod 46, and,;o=nY

still further pulling of the lever 5 to therea'r, the eyed portion54 of the L-shaped' rod 53 will engage the shut-offv button 51 and press the same into the switch box-48, cutting off the W ignition and stopping the engine;

I It may be desired to have the starter switch f I automatically controlled to start the engine, I and topr'ovidefor thisl' position on the pin lever 53. "Thus, when it is desired to auto 52' a" collar or stop 55 attachedinpredeten 7 mined position by set screw '56, and position .a coiled spring'57-on the pin 52 between the stopj55 and the eyedend 54 of-the L-shap ed matically' start the engine, movement for Warden either contro'l'lever 5 or 6 will open the butterfly valve and advance the spark to predetermined extent, meanwhile compre'ssing the springe57against the "stop 55;

i 7 When the'tension of the spring becomessuifi cient, itwill force the-pint? lto the'legtt,

drawing the starter b utton4 9 into or towardj thebox 48, andoperatin'g the selfstarter.

i, rWhen this occurs, the'pin52 ands'top 55 will be shot ashoit distance to theleft, per

mating the spring '57 to again open, and

providing for traveloftheeyed portion 54:

e from the position illustrated in Fig; 6 until starter'control'theengine-will beshut off in efficient combined steeringLandv engine op erated zmechan 'sm, as well as a fznovel dual control arrangement for use in connectionf therewith. V 4 The factof being enabledto operate all of the engine corltlols, as'well as thesteer-j ingot the boat,by a single'member', the ease,

and simplicity ojf operationio-f such member,

and the desirability of being enabledtoop' V erate the boatw'ithout paying attention' to .l

the individual engine controls, will appeal to operatorsof these boats and to others skilled inthisart.

'While I, 'have ncess i j described present invention somewhat in detail,[it will be appreciatedthat VI 1may vary the size, g0

sonably .wide limits withoutdeparting 1 from shape, and arrangement of parts within reathe spirit lot the. invention.

7 NW invention isfurther-descrihedandde V V fined in the form of. claims, ,as follow sz .5 g

described, comprising -a2b0at,: a rudder, a; plurality of spaced'fapart levers pivotally mounted foroscillation-laterally of said boat and connected for :indepen'dent"simultane,

ous operation, a quadrant fixed to on-e of said levers, a quadrant fixed to said" rudder, a

flexible element uniting i said two quadrants, whereby'manipulationzof either of. said levers wlll operate said rudder.

2-. A steering device ofthekinddescribed,

comprising a boat, a rudder, a plurality of spaced apart levers pivotally mounted ior oscillationlaterally of said heat, a quadrant fixed to one of said levers, aquadrantfixedto said rudder, flexible elements unit ng said qu'adrants, and ashai t on whichjeachof'said levers .is fixed, "wherebyQmanipulation' of either of said lefvers willoperate said rudder. V

7 3. A steering contrel device of the kind described, comprising boat, a rudder; a

plurality of spaced apart levers pivotallv mounted foroscillation laterally ofsaid boat,"

a quadrant fixed to oneof said'levers a r quadrant fixed'to saidrudder, flexible ele:

ments uniting said] quadrants,' heari ngs inf said boat, and a shaft. rotatably mounted in said bearings, each of said levers being fixed to said shaft, whereby nanipul'ationof either ofsaidlevers will efifect'a rotative movement of's'aid first quadrantandconsequent opera tion of said rudder. if r i l." a boat, an engine, a pluralityl of engine controls, and a plurality of spaced apart devices, remote from said engine and 120 independently operable to simultaneously operate all ofsaidenginecontrols.

5,111 aboat an en ine" aluralit 1 of engine controls, a rudder, and a single means to perate said rudderand said 6. lnf a boat," an enginefajplur 1 in co 1'2 y; f 7 7 engine controls, ai rudderuanda single means} j j to -simultaneously op eratepsa d rudderand said enginecontrolst 7 '13 0 1. A.steeringcontrol-device ofthekind 7. In a boat, an engine, a'plurality of engine controls, a rudder, and a plurality of independently operable devices to each simultaneously operate said rudderandsaid engine 7 controls. a. v

8. In a boat, an engine, a plurality of engine controls, a rudder, and a lever remote from said engine and said rudder, said lever being pivotally mounted for oscillation laterally of said boat to operate said rudder, and

said lever being pivotally mounted for oscilf lation longitudinally of said boat to operate longitudinally of said boat to operate said engine'controls, and second lever, spaced from said first lever but so connected thereto I that operation of said second lever Will also operate said rudder or said engine controls. 10. In a boat, an engine, a plurality of engine controls, a rudder, and a lever remote from said engine and said rudder, said lever being pivotally mounted for oscillation laterally of said boat to operate said rudder, said lever bein pivotally mounted for oscil lation longitudinally of said boat to operate said engine controls, a hollow rotatable shaft on Which said lever is fixed, a second lever spaced from saidfirst lever and fixed to said shaft, and a rod fixed at itsends to said levers and extending through said shaft, 1

7 whereby manipulation of said second lever will also operate said rudder or said engine controls. 7 1 V o In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES noonsrrin, 4 1 

